Meet MI-RAI-RT, from the maker of AIBO

Sony, after your futile attempt to scorch the Earth of our beloved robot dog, prepare to meet thy maker. MI RAI-RT, from AIBO's creator Tomoaki Kasugi now of Speecys Corp, is the latest all singing, all dancing robot, all growed-up and ready for release upon Japan. In addition to reading you the news downloaded over its 802.11g WiFi module, MI RAI-RT (which presumably translates to "future judgement" in Japanese) will teach your family English and deliver "3D messages" via RTML -- yes, that'd be Robot Transaction Markup Language -- which entails reading emails or other message types with appropriately intimidating body language. Weighing in at just 13-inches and 3.3-pounds, he won't be grinding execs into a human sausage all on his own, but he's apparently capable of terrorizing the shiznit out of your kids right from the box. Expect critical density to build starting October 31st when these drop for a ¥294,000 or about $2,495.

[Via Robot Gossip]

[Doc. @ Sep 13th 2006 8:24AM]

That picture to the right is probably one of the most horrifying things I have ever seen. I love it.

[timetex @ Sep 13th 2006 8:38AM]

I, for one, welcome our email reading mini-robotic overlords.

[Albino Moose @ Sep 13th 2006 8:42AM]

it's worse than you think, boys. The company's name is actually the katakana gairaigo for the english word "species", and indeed, the robot's name means "Future"-RT. No idea what the RT stands for, but it sure ain't going to be Really Tall.

Gulp, it's a bit too much, if you ask me.

[Pc_Madness @ Sep 13th 2006 8:47AM]

Errm, I don't understand, they're trying to advertise they're new product by showing people being attacked/horrified by said product? :confused:

[Macpaul @ Sep 13th 2006 8:57AM]

Mobile-RT: Mobile Robot Takeover..?

[Jon @ Sep 13th 2006 9:17AM]

Fantastic. Now an overworked executive father can message home to his tiny robot friend, to attack his children for him. C21 child discipline at its best...

[K MAN @ Sep 13th 2006 9:23AM]

Looks and moves like Qrio's retarded cousin.

Qrio was state of the art. but that's what sony does. Discontinues great projects, and spits out shit.

[James @ Sep 13th 2006 10:00AM]

The kids in those drawings look like either they are panicking or performing special robo-worship dances for their local mechanized overlord. I can just imagine the Omega Beams from the robot's eyes should the child ever stop dancing.

DANCE FILTHY HUW-MON SLAVE, DANCE!!!!

[Whiplash @ Sep 13th 2006 10:36AM]

Lame! Who wants a robot that dances or reads email? Give me one to clean the freaking toilet or change the oil in my car and I'll write a check right now.

[Lee @ Sep 13th 2006 4:18PM]

The best thing is the posts about the robot are more entertaining than the robot itself. Whoever the artist was for this ad has some emotional issues. Scariest ad I have ever seen.

[Timerider @ Sep 13th 2006 1:10PM]

When I saw the robot, the first thing I thought was it looks like Gort from "The Day The Earth Stood Still".

The girl looks like she's having a panic attack and the robot looks like it's trying to hump the boy's leg, or rip it off.

[popfrogs @ Sep 13th 2006 12:05PM]

You know what I don't understand? Despite making these little robots sing, dance, walk around, terrorize small pets, etc. they left out one important element:

The ability to actually *do* The Robot.

It's the most famous dork dance of all time, and yet, these gadgets just aren't capable of doing a dance *designed just for them*.

Call me when a robot can do The Robot or pop-lock, then I'll know the future has truly arrived.

[sniperpikachu @ Sep 13th 2006 2:57PM]

Didn't they ask themselves: Why am I going to buy a robot to scare my childrens? anyway, I expect that it will be really funny if u're a terrible dad.

[B from TX @ Sep 13th 2006 3:20PM]

OK, added the blood to make the cartoon better.

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/7797/mirairt01imgem8.jpg

[feckineejit @ Aug 31st 2007 11:26AM]

the message sent from the father:
"Clean your room or dishonor family. when I return to family prefecture punishment will be severe".